Detachable step for ladders



Feb. 4, 1947. YQTHERS 2,415,327

DETACHABLE STEP FOR LADDERS Filed April 13, 1944 I Roberi' .6. yoi'hcns Patented Feb. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES O F FICE.

DETAGHABLE STEP FOR LADDERS Robert A. Yothers, Lodi, Ohi Application April- 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,801

(01. ans-=11).

3 Claims.- 1

The invention. relates to. step for ladders, and more. especially to a flat step arranged to. be placed upon the usual rounded rung of a ladder.

Ladders, such as are used by. carpenters, painters and other workmen, usually comprise a spaced pair of side rails. joined at conveniently spaced points by substantially round rungs upon which the, workmen are frequently required to stand for long periods of time in order to work at the. desired. elevation above the ground. Standing upon these round rungs is. not only tiring and painful, but is often injurious to the workmens feet.

The present invention therefor contemplates the provision of a flat step which may be detachably mounted upon any rung of a ladder upon which it may be necessary tor a workman to Stand for any len th (if. t me.-

Another object of the invention i to provide a step; oi} this character having means whereby it a be uick and. eas l mounted 9 1 or removed from the, rung of a ladder.

A further object is to provide such a ladder step which is adjustable to various lengths of ladder rungs.

It is a stillfurther object of the invention to provide a detachable, adjustable ladder step comprising two telescoping, flat step members with means for holding them in adjusted, extended positions and means for holding them in retracted position.

Another object is to provide a detachable step for ladders in which a U-shape attaching bracket is pivotally connected to each end of the detachable step for engagement with the side rails of the ladder, so that the step may rest in horizontal position upon the ladder rung regardless of the inclination of the ladder.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a detachable ladder step of the character referred to, in which a hook is formed upon one end of one of the U-shape brackets, so that the detachable step may be hung upon a ladder rung or other support when not in use.

A further object is the provision of an adjustable ladder step comprising a hollow, flat sheet metal member and a solid fiat member of wood, or the like, telescopically mounted therein.

It is a, further object of the invention to generally simplify and improve the construction of detachable, adjustable steps for ladders.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved 2 detachable, adjustable step. for ladders in the manner. illustrated. in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ladder showing the, improved detachable, adjustable step mounted upon a rung thereof; in position for use.

Fig. 2: a detached perspective View of the imrz oved lad r step, nd

Fig. 3; an enlarged transverse. sectional View taken as on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

A ladder of any usual and well known construc.-.. tion is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 comprising the usual spaced side, rails Ill connected at interval by the round rungs ll.

The improved, detachable, adjustable step, to, which the invention pertains, comprises two flat telescoping members indicated generally at 12 and I3. The member [2 is preferably in the form of a flat, hollow sheet metal member closed at one end as, at 1.4 and open at its other end as at, it, and the member l3, may be formed of wood or the like and is shaped to slidably fit within, the. hollow member 1-2;

A hee of; rubber m tting, 0.1- he like, asin: dicated at 16 may be fixed upon the upper surface of the hollow member l2 to provide more sure footing as well as to add to the comfort of the workmen when standing thereon, and for the same reason, a similar sheet of rubber matting or the like, as indicated at Il, may be fixed to the top surface of the telescoping member l3.

For the purpose of preventing the member l3 from sliding relative to the hollow member l2 when the device is not in use, the side edges of the member l3 may be longitudinally grooved as at I8 and set screws or the like, preferably wing bolts as shown at l9, may be threaded through opposite side walls of the hollow member i2 and engaged in said grooves. The closed inner ends 28 of the grooves l8 will limit the outer sliding movement of the member l3 relative to the member l2, preventing the two members from becoming accidentally separated.

For the purpose of positively holding the telescoping members in adjusted position and preventing the member l3 from accidentally sliding into the member 12 when in use, a safety catch or lock may be provided in the form of a stud or pin 2| mounted upon one end of a, leaf spring 22, the other end of which is attached to the top of the hollow member [2 as at 23. A button or other projection 24 is provided for manually operating the same. The stud or pin 2| is adapted to be inserted into any one of the plurality of sockets 25 in the member I3 to hold the two members in adjusted position.

In order to detachably mount. the step in adjusted position upon the rung of a ladder, substantially U-shape brackets 26 are pivotally mounted as at 21 upon the outer ends of the member l2 and I3 for engaging around the side rails of the ladders as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As shown in'these the pivotal mounting 'of the U-'shape"attaching brackets 25 permit them to be swung to any angle relative to the telescoping step members [2 and I 3 which may be re" quired by the inclination of the ladder while at the same time permitting the adjustable step to rest in a horizontal the ladder.

If desired a hook 28 may be: formed upon one of the U-shape brackets 26 so that the detachable step may be hung upon the rung of a ladder or other support when not in use.

From the above it will be obvious that a simple, strong, eificient and easily operated detachable step is provided which may be adjusted to ladders of different widths and positively held in adjusted position securely detachably mounted upon the ladder with the step in horizontal position upon any desired rung of the ladder regardless of the angle to which the ladder may be inclined.

I claim:

I 1. A detachable step for ladders comprising a fiat, hollow member, a second fiat member slidably mounted within the hollow member, means for locking said flat members in relatively ad-- justed position, and U-shape brackets pivotally connected to the outer ends of said flat members for-engagement with the side rails of a ladder, said ,second fiat member being longitudinally grooved to a point spaced from its inner end, and removable screw means upon the hollow, flat member engaging said groove for normally preventing complete separation of the members.

. 2. A detachable step for ladders comprising a flat,. elongated, rectangular, hollow sheet metal box-like member closed at its outer end and open at its opposite end, and a flat, elongated, recposition upon the rung H of tangular, solid member slidably mounted within the open end of the box-like member, a longitudinal groove in one side edge of the solid member terminating at a point spaced from the inner end thereof, a removable stud in the adjacent side of the hollow member locate in said groove to normally prevent complete separation of the two members, means for locking said members in relatively adjusted position, and U-shape brackets pivotally connected to the outer ends of the flat members for engagement with the side rails of a ladder.

3. A detachable step for ladders comprising a fiat, elongated, rectangular, hollow sheet metal box-like member closed at its outer end and open at its opposite end, and a flat, elongated, rectangular, solid member slidably mounted within the open end of the box-like member, a longitudinal groove in one side edge of the solid member terminating at a point spaced from the inner end thereof, a removable stud in the adjacent side of the hollow member located in said groove to normally prevent complete separation of the two members, means for locking said members in relatively adjusted position, comprising a leaf spring fixed upon one end of the top of the hollow member, a stud upon the free end of the leaf spring and a plurality of sockets in the top. of the solid member for selectively receiving said stud, and U-shape brackets pivotally connected to the outer ends of the flat members for engagement with the side rails of a ladder.

ROBERT A. YOTHERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

